In this video
Acoustic Looper - C Sharp Backing Track
In this lesson we look at a simple jam in the key of C# minor and how we can solo using the C# minor pentatonic scale.
Theory points
C# minor is the relative minor to E major, which means that both have the same chords (and the same number of sharps and flats aka the same key signature.
Strumming pattern
A full tutorial for this strumming pattern is here. More help in the interactive tab feature at the bottom of this page!
Lead part using C# minor pentatonic scale
My recommended starting point for this jam is to use the C# minor pentatonic scale. Stick to shape 1 if that's all your know, but I've also written some useful extensions using the other positions too.
Blue = Shape 1 Red = Shape 2 Green = Shape 4
Learn the 5 shapes of the minor and major pentatonic scales in my newly released course Lead Guitar 3
Full example - Interactive tab
C# major song examples
The original recordings of all the songs written below are in the key of C#. However, all of them when played on guitar would use either a capo, detuning, or a combination of the two. C# is just a total faff of a key to play in for guitarists!
- The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
- Ed Sheeran - I See Fire
- The Killers - Mr Brightside
- The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
- U2 - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
- Nirvana - All Apologies
- Bryan Adams - Everything I Do
However, that doesn't mean these aren't worth knowing. In fact, knowing better options when playing in the harder keys on guitar is a huge part of the purpose of this course. So dig in and learn some songs in C#, be it with a capo and detuning, or with standard chords if you're up for a challenge!